Update on Skinny Alpine Tree

Wow!!! I went to Hobby Lobby yesterday and the 7' Skinny Alpine was $129.99 this year...it was $80 last year. It's on sale now after Christmas...yesterday it was about $67 as I recall...I gave $12 for mine! Wonder if they'll ever get that low again. Someone must have figured out they were popular!!! Funny how that works...the greedy bas..... oh, never mind!!!

The Skinny Alpine

Here's a photo of my "skinny alpine"...a pre-lit tree that I bought at Hobby Lobby last year shortly after Christmas. It was an $80 tree...and I haunted their store/parking lot until the price was right..$12. I just love it. My friend Patsy, the uber-Yule Christmas maven (Greg's term - wish I could take credit) has one just like it in her kitchen with cute little kitchen ornaments all over it. It's 7' tall, but everyone refers to it as my "little tree".

The little snowman/Santa face is one of two that my friend Pat gave me. It's really cute. Both of the photos were taken after 9pm...so they really aren't very good shots...but...."when the spirit moves ya", you know! (If you click on them, it might improve them for you a little.)

I'm looking forward to the New Year with great anticipation....I HAVE to get in better shape!!! I've made truffles a couple of times this Christmas season, and today I made peanut-butter balls (replaced 1/2 stick of margerine with 1/3 package of cream cheese.....yummy....great improvement!).... and I'm eating like it's my last meal. Believe me, that tree is the only thing that's "skinny" around here.

Well, enough....just wanted to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy
New Year!!! And, please...don't forget the reason for the season!

Looking back & looking forward...

Looking back...and reading back....strange how time changes our opinions and goals.

I just spent a few minutes going back a year and reading what I had written here in my blog. Much of the same feelings this year regarding the holidays: bluntly, I'll be glad to see January roll around! Old country song about "If we make it through December, everything's gonna be alright"...seems pretty fitting to me. I think it's a time to be celebrated and thankful, but I think the commercial aspect of it all has totally wiped out a lot of people's common sense...as well as their ability to recognize what the season is all about! 'Nuff said? Ok.

One more thing from the near past that has probably changed for me is that I'm somewhat (probably more than somewhat) disappointed in Obama. I was all for him and what he stood for and what he was saying he could make happen. He's made a few decisions here lately that sure haven't set well with me. #1: LET'S GET THE HELL OUT OF THIS WAR!!!!! I totally believe that sending more troops over there is a huge mistake! (My blog, my opinion. You want to express an opinion, start your own blog!)

Ok...on to a new year....have you made resolutions yet? I usually don't, however, this past year I made one that I've actually stuck to for the entire year: that was to NOT answer the phone to a certain individual. It hasn't prevented his phone calls (he's a slow learner), but somehow I feel I've gained a little control over the circumstances.

I'm so proud of that accomplishment that I've decided to work on a few other things for 2010. The standard: lose weight, exercise more, bicycle more, walk more, eat more veggies and less sweets, give up Diet Coke...see, all related to my weight and condition. I'm 65 now and can still ride 30+ miles on a bicycle. You'd think would make me happy...but I don't do it nearly often enough. Wasn't but two or three years ago that we (the gals I ride with) wouldn't consider doing less than 20 miles a day...and that was usually 5 or 6 days a week. Now if I get out twice a month I'm doing good! That has to change...that's GOING to change! Granted, winter months means riding the trainer in the basement probably, but that's do-able!!!

Recently I had a bone density test and was told later that I have osteopenia in my spine. Of course, the doctor wants to start me on medication...a PILL...that's the standard answer! No! That's my standard answer. So the alternative is to up my calcium, increase my vitamin D, and do weight-bearing exercise. (When I asked the caller from my doctor's office if bicycling was considered "weight bearing" she assured me it was....I knew better, but I asked. SHE'S WRONG!!!) But, nevertheless, bicycling is good for all sorts of things - especially my knees and heart and lungs and attitude! So I'm also going to start tanning in a tanning bed...oh yeah, yeah...I know...but that's vitamin D and if you don't overdo it and become Miss Naugahyde it's probably a plus rather than a minus!!! And, by the way, a little on-line research indicates that osteopenia is a natural occurrence as we age.

Well...you see...this having one's own blog is handy! I get to say whatever I want and no one argues..yet.

Today was nice...over 50 degrees, light wind, sunshine (which we haven't seen much of here for a while). I thought about a bicycle ride..but chose to go out and rake the backyard instead. It needed it and I needed some outdoors exercise. Hope your day was spent productively and happily...count your blessings! I mean that!!! Good night!

Sunday - Dec 13 -

Many of you will probably remember that Schiz (the dog that owns me) came from a really bad place. I didn't get her until she was 5 1/2 months old. At that time she'd never been on grass and didn't know how to be held. (Among a multitude of other atrocities!) She'd stiffen out and was just scared to death. She's now 5 1/2 YEARS old, has been thoroughly "socialized" (some might perhaps say too much!!), and is a pretty relaxed, easy-going little girl.

Yesterday we had four ladies stop by and Schiz had her "ain't I the cutest thing ya ever saw" routine going full speed. When they came in the front door, she was on her hind legs, standing and waving both front paws in the air. One of the ladies was clearly a "dog person" and she was on the floor with her and pretty soon Schiz was doing "hot laps" up and down the hallway...sliding into the computer room where we were all at. She won all their hearts I think!!!

Usually she's not an over-affectionate dog. My previous Shih tzu was...Odjida was a lover! Schiz is affectionate first thing in the morning. She'll maybe give you a kiss even. She not really a "kissing" dog. She seems to pride herself on being very independent. Often she'll stay in one room while I'm in another...for several hours even.

This evening I was ironing and she was sleeping in the doorway. I had a sweatshirt vest over my t-shirt (ok..it's a rag of a sweatshirt with the sleeves cut out), and I got too warm, so I pulled it off and threw it on the floor. These photos are merely my proof that the dog DOES TOO like me!!!! She had to get up and move to get on the sweatshirt. She's zonked! In fact, while I've come into another room, she's still asleep in the ironing room...on my sweatshirt! Sorry...I think she's really a sweetie!!!

Also this evening my son supplied me with this website...forewarned, you'll be sorry you ever looked!!!! Go ahead and get your pen and paper ready to start making a grocery list right now...then go look. If you can get through this page, you can scroll to the bottom and find page after page after page of goodies. I haven't managed to get through them all yet...but I'm sure I will!!! Good luck...here's the link: http://foodgawker.com/popular/gawked/


Well, that's it for this evening. Remember to count your blessings...and remember, sometimes they're disguised and you have to find the meaning.

PS...I'm back...just went and looked at more of the Foodgawker site...there's some wonderful stuff there...there's also some really weird stuff...like the cows' lips and the duck embryo cooked in the eggshell....YUCK!!!!!

What's Been Happenin'

Wow...been busy, busy, busy!!!!

Started out last Thursday, the 3rd, I went up by Manhattan and picked up my cousin, Shon. She was showing me their new barn/stables when I saw this ox yoke hanging there. Oh-oh!!!! So I had to go talk to Charlie (her husband) about it, and wound up bringing it home with me. I love it!! It's about 50 inches wide, and will require at least 40 inches vertically. I may not get it up til spring as I want to sand a little and then put tung oil or something on it. I'm thinking probably the back wall of my dining room...but friends say the side wall of the living room. We'll see.....







Then Shon and I went on to Becky's (Shon's sister, my cousin) at Maple Hill. Both Shon and Becky have incredible talent! I didn't take the time to take photos at Shon's but she does awesome work as well. But these are a few (and I do mean FEW) of the gorgeous wood carvings that Becky has done. My photos are a little confusing sometimes as I was shooting against a mirror and sometimes through glass besides. Just incredible...even the leaves are carved or "formed" by hand. Everything looks so real you expect them to move. Both Shon and Becky are wood carvers and compete in shows and do quite well. And you can surely see why!!!!









This last one is definitely one of my favorites. The little chickadee and the blue bird on the same piece of aspen (which is also carved!!)....WOW!!!! She calls it something like Mountain Song....as both birds are found like this quite often in Colorado (I hope that's accurate!?!?! It's been a long, full week and I may not have my facts straight.)

Anyway, the three of us had a wonderful visit. We laughed and laughed til we were crying. It was a most relaxing, entertaining, fun-filled day I've had in quite a while...and I totally enjoyed it.



Then Saturday my friend Pat who does Iris-folding greeting cards and I shared a booth at the Hutch Rec Craft Fair held at Trinity Methodist Church. I think someone said there were 15 jewelry booths out of a total of 30 booths. I had a great day. Sales were pretty good. I think maybe the gals in the booth behind us (who sold jewelry) weren't real happy with me, but I can't help that. People that like sterling silver, like sterling silver! And Pat had a very successful day with her cards as well.

Monday was my big Christmas Open House Craft Fair here at my home. I wound up with eleven vendors: beaded jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, embroidered tea towels +, goats' milk soaps, antiques, Pappardelle's pasta, purses, metal art, Scentsy candles, candies & baked goodies, and Iris-folding greeting cards. The weather was NOT cooperative. It was very, very cold!!!! And by late afternoon had turned to snow! We didn't have a huge crowd, but still it wasn't too bad. Everyone did ok I think. Everyone made a little...some made a little more! But the best of it was the entertainment. Who had time for customers anyway...we were too busy laughing at each other and telling stories!!!! And there were some FUNNY stories!!!

I won't go into all the details here, but Mark...the goats' milk soap guy...has 27 goats and does all his production himself, except the packaging which his mother-in-law does. He's a hoot!!!! He was telling stories about goats that kept us all in stitches!

Tuesday was "carpet cleaning" day...and cold and snowy...as was Wednesday when I was supposed to do a trunk show at a local tanning salon. I postponed it until next Wednesday. Today was the first day I've had my car out of the garage since early Monday morning. Our snow wasn't necessarily all that deep (I've heard 1"...and I've heard nearly 3") but the roads looked pretty slick and it was VERY cold, so I just stayed home!

Life is good overall. I count my blessings...and I hope you'll count yours too. If you ever think you've got it bad, look around. You'll most likely see you're pretty blessed! With that, good night.

Busy Times!

Busy, busy times! A little over a week ago I spent Friday and Saturday at the Christmas In The Foothill Craft Show. Then came Thanksgiving...I don't have much family nearby so it was just my son and me, but ya still gotta eat turkey and stuff!!!! And we did, of course!

Then J had to work Friday, but was gone over the weekend. I spent that time trying to get Christmas decorations in place, all the while keeping in mind that next Sunday I'm going to move all the furniture out of at least two rooms, probably three, and possibly four....because Monday, December 7 is our big Christmas Craft Fair here at my house. (I'll get back to that in a minute.)

So I spent time Saturday and Sunday putting out/up Christmas ornaments and decorations and the trees, etc. Today I managed to make a few phone calls and send emails to "alert" people of our big sale...and even went for a 16 mile bicycle ride with Mary (quite enjoyable!!!!)

Tomorrow a.m. I'm to go for a bone density test (I'm 65 now...I get ALL the good stuff...wanna hear about the last one? I don't think so!!)

Thursday I plan to go to Manhattan, pick up my cousin Shon, then we're going on to her sister's, my other cousin Becky. And we're gonna do whatever we find to do that's fun.

Friday evening I need to go set up a booth for the Hutchinson Recreation Christmas Arts & Crafts Boutique that will be held in the Trinity United Methodist Church at 17th and Main on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Then Sunday clean house and move all the furniture out so we can have our Craft Fair here on Monday.

The carpets get cleaned on Tuesday.

And Wednesday I'm doing a one day trunk show with my sterling silver at Flawless Image Tanning Salon here in Hutch.

Then I have a whole week to catch up until Pat and I set up booths on Third Thursday in Downtown Hutchinson. We've gotten permission to set up inside Hayes Home Furnishings at Sherman and Main. Pat was there last month and said it was a very good place to be.

Now...back to this Christmas Craft Fair we're having here at my house next Monday. So far I have either 8 or 9 other vendors and I think we're going to have a grand time. We're going to have door prizes and secret hostess prizes and snacks and drinks.

One of our vendors, Janis, is going to fix pasta (Pappardelle's Pasta). She was my "neighbor" at The Christmas in the Foothills show and I got to try three different pastas she had fixed (oink, oink!) They were absolutely delicious! I bought a couple: one is a lemon chive angel hair and the other is a tri-color (spinach, dried tomato, regular) wheel-type pasta. Wonderful! I won't give it away, but she's told me what she plans to fix...we had it the other day and it's FUN!!!!! Something I'd bet you haven't tried before! As to how good it is: one man tasted it, looked at her and smiled real big and said, "Are you married?" Lip-smackin' good!!!!

Some of my other vendors include Brenda with her gorgeous beaded jewelry, Pat with her Iris-folded greeting cards, Carolyn with Scentsy candles, Heike with the wonderful plasma-cut custom metal work, Dartyle and her friend Beverly with some of the cutest embroidered tea towels and other goodies, possibly Billy & Shari with some antiques sprinkled around, and possibly Mark with his wonderful goat's milk soaps.

We're all hoping for a good turnout...we've all sent emails, and are making phone calls, and passing out cards and invitations...and speaking of which...here's YOUR invitation now!!!! Please feel free to drop by between noon and 7 p.m. on Monday, December 7 and see what fun we're having. There'll be a sign out front to help you find the place. And here's where I guess maybe I'm weird...email be at b_robinson@cox.net and I'll send you my address. Hope to hear from you and see you on Monday!!

Well...it's getting late and I've still got work to do so I better go. The weather is behaving and today was gorgeous. Don't miss the opportunity to get out and do something in the next few days. They (the weather-guessers) talk like this nice stuff is about to end. Count your blessings...and good night!

Wild Weekend

It's been a wild ride, baby!!!!!!!!!!!! I've spent the past two or three days getting ready for, doing, and getting over a big craft show. The "Christmas in the Foothills" craft show was here in Hutchinson Friday and Saturday. I went up to the fairgrounds Thursday afternoon and sat up my tables and displays. Then Friday I was there at 7:45 am to work my booth. The doors closed at 8 pm and we were able to leave by about 8:30 or so. Saturday hours were 7:45 am til about 4 pm.

"Christmas in the Foothills" started several years ago at one of the promoters' homes in the Foothills area north of Hutch. Then it grew and escalated into the now Domestic Arts building at the Kansas State Fairgrounds.

The three main gals that put this show on must work themselves to a frenzy!!! It is exceptionally well handled, well advertised, and well received. The crowds both days were great!!!

They have a system of collecting the monies that seems to really work as well. My booth was a little different, but I think it seemed to work pretty well. I wrote tickets and the shopper took the ticket to the check out with their other purchases, then dropped back by my booth (very close to the check out) and we traded their ticket (stamped "PAID") for their sack of goodies with the copy of the ticket attached to it. There may have been a few slip-ups, but overall it seemed to work pretty well.

I had said my goal was to earn enough in those two days to pay my real estate taxes for the first six months. (I was asked if I didn't make that much did that mean I wouldn't be able to pay my taxes? No...I just want to feel like I'm paying them with "free" money!!!) At the end of Friday I was pretty happy! By the end of Saturday I was ecstatic!!!! I had a very good sale...a Very Good Sale!!! I had a very, Very, VERY good sale!!!! I can pay my taxes and still have a little left over! (I realize in "real life" there's no such thing as paying your taxes and having anything left over...they'll be back to get the rest somehow I'm sure!)

I now hope that I have a much clearer idea of what it takes to be a real craft fair vendor. I ran out of a very crucial item that is a good seller. I had 46 pair of earrings of a particular style that always sells....at the end of Friday I had 9 pair left. By 10 am Saturday those were gone too. Next year...just wait til next year.

However, part of the problem I'm facing now is that I have craft shows on December 5, December 7, and December 9. I still have inventory...but not very many pairs of earrings!!! And not any of THE earrings!!!! I may have to take orders and promise them before Christmas. (I came home Friday evening and ordered 50 more pair...now I'm thinking maybe I should have doubled that order even!)

Anyway...after the show Saturday I kind of just dumped everything in my rolling suitcase and came home. What a mess!!! I spent a lot of today sorting and cleaning and counting inventory. Sure looks better now.

I can only agree with a comment my cousin said.....it's GOOD to be me!!! Count your blessings.....I do!!! I genuinely do! It's not just the $$$$ by any means...I love meeting the people, and talking to everyone, and seeing old friends, and making new friends. It was a great time and I thoroughly enjoyed it!!!!

Check This!

Ok...so my pictures of the snow weren't so great...but check Greg's.....we DID have snow...no accumulation however (Thank Heavens!)

Do You See What I See?

I took the photo of this cute little wreath Christmas decoration at the sale last Saturday at Gypsum. Now I'm well aware, they aren't referring to what I'm referring to, but....









This is what's happening outside my front door even as I type this. SNOW!!!!!!

















And you can see it even better when I point to camera towards the church. YUCK!!!

Sorry..I gave MANY years to loving winter. And now I don't! I want more summer..or at least fall!!!! Warmer, dryer, longer days!!!!!

Prairie Patch Craft Show - Gypsum, Ks.

Wow!!! Oh WOW!!!!!! Mary and I went to the Prairie Patch Craft Show near Gypsum, Kansas today. (Gypsum is between McPherson and Salina..kind of North of Assaria.) We left Hutch at 9 am and pulled into the school parking lot there at 9:58 am. Sign said "10 til 4"...perfect timing!

On the "final stretch" we noticed there was a lot of traffic. Gypsum is listed as population 414 persons...I'm sure that road got more use today than it has in quite a while! There was a great crowd!

I was searching for local craft shows on-line when I "ran into" this one. The website said the show began in 1999 with 20 vendors and attendance of a couple of hundred shoppers. Now they fill three gyms with 120 vendor spaces and an attendance exceeding 2,000. I thought I needed to go check it out (there were no spaces available by the way, or I would have been there as a vendor!)

I took lots of pictures and these are just a few of the really wonderful crafts exhibited. I picked up cards from several vendors (thinking of maybe trying to attract them to Hutchinson for a show next year) and found they were fairly local: McPherson, Hillsboro, Lindsborg, Marquette, Council Grove, Pratt, Herington, Abilene, Osborne, Salina..and even one from Beatrice, Nebraska.

There were purses, jewelry, wood crafts, quilts, candies, jellies, marble-art, popcorn shirts, embroidery, stone work, furry puppets, greeting cards, and a myriad of other crafts. Kansas is full of really talented people!

The building was FILLED with buyers!!! Tons of people shopping and buying and looking. A truly great market!

They also had a varied menu of some really delicious sounding, delicious looking food...and prices were extremely reasonable..both for the food and the crafts.

It was a fun day. I think both Mary and I fully enjoyed it. The weather was somewhat cooperative...overcast, but not raining or snowing or too bad. It was a good day!

Huh?

Did anyone but me notice this ad in today's Hutchinson News? My photo isn't exactly the best...but notice at the bottom it says "Must be 8 years old & playing bingo."

Huh?


My son suggested I send it to Jay Leno and maybe I'd get a free coffee mug or something...but I decided I didn't need that so why bother.

Size DOES Count!!

Just a couple of quick pictures of Pat and Kathy at the 10' x 10' booth "we" had rented. (read the last blog, you'll understand my snippiness). I believe that's actually an 8' table with 2 chairs....not 10' x 10'.

I wound up going there today to talk to several other people as well at Pat and Kathy...and we're now planning on getting together and doing a huge (I hope) open house type craft fair at my house on December 7. My sister and Pat and I did this a couple of times last spring, but we want to do another pre-Christmas one. If you'd like to attend and don't have my address, please email me at b_robinson@cox.net and I'll get more information to you.

We'll have several different displays. Pat does creative greeting cards. She's the one that does the wonderful Iris-folded cards. My sister Jude will have her jewelry with real stones. My friend Carolyn will have her Scentsy products (so my house should smell good!!!) And Heike and Kevin are planning to set up their "Three Doors North" custom plasma cutting and steel arts work. (Neat, neat stuff!)

I have a couple of others that I may ask to join, but I need to figure space yet. We plan to have door prizes and secret hostess prizes and all kinds of fun. For me, the best part is catching up with people I haven't seen in awhile.

At any rate, planning and talking to people at the craft fair today brought my spirits up quite a bit. Something to look forward to is always good therapy for me.

It's a beautiful day here...warm, sunshiny, and slightly breezy.

Oh, and these last two pictures are so you'll understand why I referred to my tree as Sir Sycamore. With leaves this size, I sure don't want to call him a Sissy!!!! (The coke can is merely for size reference.)

Have a great day...a wonderful weekend...and don't forget to count your blessings!! For instance, this could be YOUR sycamore tree!

Disappointment............

Late this afternoon I learned that a craft fair that I thought I was to be in tomorrow, simply isn't going to happen for me.

I met my friend Pat at the Methodist Church and we were waiting for the "person in charge" to arrive. I decided to run a couple of errands, and when I returned Pat met me with a very upset look on her face.

We were going to share a 10 x 10 booth...the church people were to provide one table and I have a 6 foot and a 4 foot table of my own that we were also going to use. Seems that their idea of 10' x 10' is actually one table...down the middle of a lane. When Pat had sent in the entry she put just her name and her creative cards on it...never thinking there might be a problem. Well, there was. No booth sharing and no extra space evidently.

I stayed and waited for another lady who "has the final say".... and caught a bit of a conversation between her and the first lady. I saw her nod to the hallway and laugh, so I "mosey-ed" over there. She said she thought the traffic flow was ideal the way it was and didn't want to change anything. They had large (like 4-6' in between the booth spaces) and I could see plenty of room for several more tables...but NO! So I mentioned that I'd seen her nod to the hallway, and asked if she would let me set up my own table(s) out there. Well...no...they're going to have a cake and pie bar around the corner and that might restrict flow out there. All in all, she just plain wasn't going to change her mind. She suggested that I leave my name and they'd sent me an application for next year. I remained polite, thanked her, said goodbye to Pat and another friend, and walked out to my car.

Once I got to my car, I got one of my business cards out to take back in to her, and when I walked back in the ladies were once again huddled in conversation. One saw me and said (almost as if to notify the others of my presence), "Oh...she must have had a card!" So I left my card and came home.

I'm not happy about this. I'm not upset with Pat as I don't feel it was her fault. But I think the church women should have considered this is a money making thing for their women's group, there truly was plenty of space, and I offered to pay full booth fee for even a hallway space. Someone near to me suggested I should have asked, "What Would Jesus Do?" Too much, huh?

Anyway, so the rest of the evening has been spent looking for another craft fair somewhere tomorrow. So far, nothing. There's one at Anthony...but that's 70 miles away...and I didn't even call to see if I could get a booth, because this is deer rutting season and I don't want to drive 70 miles pre-8 am!

I'm just disappointed!!! Oh well...I have another show at the local tanning salon Wednesday of this next week...and so far, they've been really good. Hopefully the next one will be as well.

This weekend is supposed to be gorgeous so maybe I'll get in a bicycle ride or some yard work (that's a waste of time...Sir Sycamore isn't nearly done dropping it's leaves!!). Enjoy your weekend...and count your blessings!! (I'm trying...)

Check It Out!

A friend sent me a link to this site....it's hilarious! If you have kids or grandkids or know some picky-eater kids, you gotta try this. This would have made a great Halloween lunch! Take a look: http://myplumpudding.blogspot.com/2009/05/spaghetti-dogs.html

Regarding an Earlier Post

One of my cousins emailed me with the subject line: What are YOU smokin'?

And the content of her email was as follows:

Do NOT see Lucy type figure on that tree,,,, all I see is the AFLAC duck doin' the Macarena! hell yes we're related!! :):)


I don't know...maybe our mothers were messed up or somethin'....ya think?

Mind Tricks?

Ok....so I've probably got a bolt running loose in my cranium somewhere.

What do YOU see?

I was lying on the sofa thinking about a nap...and about what I needed to be doing instead of taking a nap...and this is the view of the sycamore in my front yard.

First I saw a letter J....see it? Near the bottom of the missing bark. Then as I began to drift off, I saw something else.

Now #1) I'm straight.
and #2) I THINK I'm mentally ok (oh sure...there are those that might argue that!!)

I see a naked lady! She has kind of a Lucy VanPelt (Snoopy-Peanuts cartoon strip) face and head....and a very serious mammary injury....a tiny waist...a very nice little navel...and I'm going to tell you she has on a bikini bottom....(that may not be what I really believe however.) Do you see her? She's facing to your left...her right arm up (probably fixing her hairdo).....

Ok...well....I've just lost it I guess...sure seems there to me.


(Someday I'll have to get the sun just right and take a picture of the dog that stands on the parking lot across the street. Long story....weird.....I'll do that one soon.)





And then if you drive past 4th and Plum in Hutchinson you'll see this sign. I don't know what they're advertising, what they're selling...but that's a really STRANGE name I think...(This from the person who worked for PMS Foods for 19 years!!)

O P M.....is that opium? There isn't exactly a storefront there telling me just what they do or sell. Hmmmmmm.............

(By the way...back in the old days at PMS Foods, I used to tell everyone it stood for Push More Soy!)

As the Sun Goes Down....

Looking out my kitchen window earlier this evening, I noticed how the sun had finally came out from behind the clouds and was "lighting up" just the tops of the trees, so I stepped out on the front porch and took these photos.

The first shot is of the church parking lot that's just across from my house....seems strange that the lot is dark-ish...and yet the trees are so bright!








Second shot is of the neighbors' trees north of me. Notice how the closest tree has already lost nearly every leaf? It did that in one day. One day it looked like the one that still has most all it's leaves, next day it was bare and the ground was covered. Odd, I thought. They get the same water, the same fertilizer, etc...yet one just "quit" while the other goes on.









This third shot is of the only reddish tree I have. It's small and I used to think it's a little crab apple...but I don't really know what it is. You'll notice the big...that's BIG....green leaves hanging in the foreground??? Those belong to the BIG sycamore tree in the middle of my front yard. It really hasn't started dropping it's leaves yet. But when it does.................watch out!!!

One day I was sitting at the stoplight at 30th and Severance (about 3-4 blocks away) and looking north I could see a VERY tall tree and wondered, "Is that MY tree?" So I kept watching as I drove this direction....and it IS my tree! Pretty tree...but if you don't know about sycamores, they'll choke you to death if you try to mow the leaves or cut up the wood. And I do both and cough, cough, cough!!!! I had three of them at the house before this one and still wasn't smart enough to avoid another! Oh well.......


Happy Autumn!

Zippy's Got Goose Juice!!!

Shortly after leaving the garage this a.m. to run my errands I went through the round-a-bout at 23rd and Severance. Everyone yields to whoever is on their left. Works fine. I entered from the north behind a car that was on the round-a-bout when I got there. A Hamilton Roofing pick-up approached from the west.

My thought: I've got the right-of-way...he sees me...he'll stop. He didn't. I have never been so close to being involved in a wreck in my life. When he EVIDENTLY saw me and/or decided I had the right-of-way, he hit his brakes...already well into the circle. I knew he'd hit me...I was just waiting for the jolt and crunch. But I goosed Zippy and cussed at the roofer and no jolt, no crunch. I went on around the round-a-bout and came out heading east on 23rd.

I was going to Hutch Credit Union so I signaled and pulled into their parking lot, stopping in their driveway. The Hamilton Roofing truck was right on me. I rolled my window down and fully intended to discuss life cycles with him!

He stopped in the middle of 23rd, rolled his window down, and said, "I'm sorry, ma'am...I just didn't see you at all! I'm sure sorry!"

Quick wit and hot temper all I could come back with was, "No Sh--!!!!!!"

He looked a little surprized...evidently 65 year old ladies aren't supposed to use that kind of language (and it was so much cleaner than what I had planned to say to him!)...and he said, "What?"

So I repeated it louder and clearer.

He drove off. Guess I didn't graciously accept his apology. Tough!

Bottom Line: Honda Fit Sport...wonderful little car...lots of zip...lots of "goose juice"!! Love it!

Contents of this blog have been severely censored and deleted for the safety of those involved.

Just Another Monday

This sign is located on the Oswald Farm a couple of miles north of Hutchinson. It was there when I was "a kid" (back when Bully was a calf!)....over 50 years easily! I love it! It just says all that needs to be said.



Another favorite of mine is the tombstone-type that says, "Here he lies, all cold and hard, the last damned dog that pooped in my yard!" That of course only applies to the front yard and other people's dogs!!! (However, I'd challenge anyone to find a single mess [meaning doggie type, not
the cannas!] in my backyard!)



And then...about these cannas....I read online that you should dry them before storing them....and since I've already dug them too early (according to the same site you're supposed to wait until a hard freeze)..I decided I'd better really dry them good...so I've dumped out all the boxes, including the ones already in the cupboard...and here's my canna bulbs!




That little 12-pound ball of stubbornness is Schiz of course. And the other thing is what I jokingly refer to as a Kansas Wind Gauge....if it's moving, it's a little windy in Kansas. (It's cast iron, folks!)

Count your blessings...it's another beautiful day!

CANNAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last spring I planted 71 canna bulbs (you can click on the pictures if you really feel you need a closer view!)




So far I've dug twelve (yes, 12...I know you only see 8) boxfuls. The others are already in the cupboard and I'm not digging 'em out til spring...unless they start sprouting out the doors!!!









This is all of the blank space that I've created. There's still one or two clusters at the far right of this picture.





And then these I'll probably try to get dug up yet. And there's a whole bunch more in the side yards...they aren't going to get dug up!

And don't even ask about all the booze boxes....YOU come dig cannas for awhile, and then we'll discuss it...maybe over a little drinky-poo???

Faith United Methodist Country Fair Day

Hi
Today was the craft fair at the church about 3 blocks down the street. (I think I mentioned in an earlier blog that I'm thinking the Methodists may require membership from me before the Christmas season is over!)

I had rented my space and a table...usually that's a 10' x 10' space with an 8' table. I got a whole room today!!! It was 18' x 18' (I stepped it off) and there were actually 2 big tables and I took my little 4' table as well. Most of the other vendors were in similar rooms...some with one or two in with them, some with 5 or 6 other booths.

I set Pat's Iris-folded greeting cards up on the 4' table and my jewelry on the biggest, tallest table. Then I used the table behind me for reserve and work space.

The crowd was ok...not tremendous, but pretty steady and most everyone was extremely pleasant and friendly. On a scale of 1-10, I'd have to probably give it a 6 or 7...relative to how I've done in the past at other sales. Not great, but certainly worth the time and effort. And if invited, I definitely would do it again. (Hey...I TRIED to behave myself!!!)

The Methodist membership had spaces upstairs and all the non-church members were located in the basement. The members were selling food....and I think ALL the good smells were coming downstairs!!!! They had chili, and chicken and noodles, and cruellers, and cookies, and a huge selection of pies. And it did smell wonderful. I resisted temptation when they came around early this a.m. with a tray of warm cruellers....and I resisted even a little later when a fellow offered to go upstairs and get me one. But third time, I folded. By then some woman had come by nibbling on one and said how good they were and they were made with a potato dough....so next time they were offered, I asked for one. They were cold by then, but still very, very good. I sure wish I'd have gotten in on the warm ones though...'course then probably one wouldn't have been enough!!!

All in all, a very nice day. I enjoy meeting and talking with people, whether they buy anything or not. One of my ex-neighbors dropped by and we both knew we knew each other and finally figured out from where. Another pleasant conversation followed.

Well...that's all for now... It's a lovely day...take advantage of it.

Just an update

I haven't written in here for awhile and felt like I should.

Last Saturday my sister and I shared a booth at a local craft fair. It was the first year for it and I'm pretty sure our last year. Quite a bit had been spent on advertising they told us, but we sure didn't have any traffic. Mostly it was vendors buying from vendors...and everyone complaining that they hadn't even made their booth rent yet! But it was a day of visiting and seeing people that I rather enjoyed. Can't say that everyone in our booth felt the same however. We both made "booth rent" and then some, but...............

I've been digging cannas for the past couple of weeks. Actually here's my plan...fill the polycart with cannas stalks and leaves and then quit digging. It usually takes about 3 (original bulb count) cannas to fill the polycart (and have a little room left over for other trash). I've filled 9 boxes with canna bulbs so far...the kind of boxes that 4 big bottles of laundry soap come in....and have a long ways to go yet. I've told several people to come dig whenever they want...so far, ZERO! One gal had surgery Monday so I figure a couple of these boxfuls will be for her...that's a ligit excuse. Anyone else, they want 'em, they need to dig 'em. They're really pretty easy to dig...it's the knocking the dirt off and tearing them apart that breaks my back. I do a couple a day...when weather permits...slowly by surely I'll have my sunroom completely filled with boxes of canna bulbs. Smells like dirt out there...I like the smell, but lots of people don't I guess.

I have another craft show tomorrow at the Methodist Church about 3 blocks south of where I live. I have a feeling before Christmas the Methodists are going to require membership from me. I'm in 3 Methodist Churches at craft shows between now and Christmas! I'm looking forward to tomorrow...it's only from 9am til 2pm..kind of a short day. I think I like that!

Time for me to go read awhile and relax before bedtime. Don't forget to count your blessings...they're plentiful! Goodnight!!!

P.S. Hey...I think I've found a home for "the hat"!!! A friend of mine makes creative cards and always needs little things to use on/in her cards. She currently out of town visiting and I thought about just leaving it on her porch...and then I thought, "If someone would steal this.... how disappointed they might be!!!" So..I'll take it to her when she gets home. And then instead on one person enjoying it, many people will enjoy parts of it!

THE HAT!

So...remember a few days ago when I'd met my two cousins in Abiline for a fun day? Today I went to the post office and had a large envelope from one of them (Shon) and when I felt it, I thought, "Oh good!!! I'll bet she's sending me some flower seeds from her giant marigolds!"

And then I opened it. No note, no hint of why I'm receiving this hat! First, I called Jude, my sister...she thought maybe it was a birthday present. Nah....I don't think so.

So then I called Shon...and because I want to keep my "G" rating I won't tell you exactly what I asked her, but it was along the lines of "Whatever might I have done to have received this lovely hat?" (Ok, ok...I said 'it was along the lines of'!!!! )

It seems a mutual friend of ours sent it to her several years ago, and she just thought I should have it. She suggested I give it to one of my bicycling friends. I said " .... but they're FRIENDS!!!"

Anyway, so I now am the proud (?) owner (maybe that's like proud flesh!!) of this adorable ball cap. If you'd ever like to borrow it...or what the heck, even if you'd just like to HAVE it...please let me know...as soon as possible....please...pretty please....????

So I'm thinkin'....now Shon can count HER blessings...for two reasons 1) she got rid of the hat, and 2)I'm 140 miles away from her.....or so she thinks!!!! hee hee hee......



P.S. You know what this reminds me of? My mother. As she advanced in years, she found great pleasure in some really outrageous clothing items. She had a pair of white majorette boots complete with tassels and sparkles...and she would wear those whenever she could...and was proud of them!!! (Hmmmm... there's that word 'proud' again....)

And by the way, Shon...I don't remember whether I thanked you....so "thank you".....and always remember: Paybacks are hell!